Stella for MAC
Free, open-source Atari 2600 emulator for Mac with accurate TIA emulation, a ROM launcher, save states, Time Machine and a built-in debugger.
Stella Overview
Stella is a long-running emulator of the Atari 2600 Video Computer System for Mac and other platforms. It plays Atari 2600 game ROMs with high-quality TIA graphics emulation, supports the NTSC, PAL and SECAM television standards, and opens games from a built-in ROM launcher.
Stella was first developed for Linux by Bradford W. Mott and is now maintained by Stephen Anthony and the Stella team. It is free and open source under the GPL-2.0 license, and donations are welcome. The Mac download supports both Apple Silicon and 64-bit Intel. The project does not publish a minimum macOS version. Stella needs game ROM files, which you supply yourself; its FAQ points to the AtariAge website as the main place for all things Atari. Version 7.0 was the first major release in over two years.
Key Features
Stella is built for both players and Atari developers.
- TIA emulation: cycle-exact graphics core with collision checking.
- Controllers: Joystick, Paddle, Driving, CBS Booster Grip, QuadTari and more, using your keyboard, joysticks or mouse.
- ROM formats: raw A26, BIN and ROM files, also inside ZIP files.
- ROM launcher: built-in game browser with images for each ROM.
- Save states: save and load the full state of the system.
- Time Machine: automatic save states let you move back and forth through your play.
- Debugger: extensive built-in debugger with the Distella disassembler.
- Bezels and phosphor: bezel support and automatically enabled phosphor modes.
What’s New in Version 7.0
Stella 7.0 improves the ROM launcher, controllers and cartridge support.
- ROM launcher allows multiple images per ROM, with many more images and filename search
- Added an option to start a random ROM and a second UI theme with a hotkey
- Added bezel support, including the Sinden Lightgun, and automatically enabled phosphor modes
- Added Joy2B+ controller support and automatic detection of QuadTari controllers
- Emulation is up to about 15% faster on ARM
- Fixed the broken 7800 pause key
Stella FAQ
Is Stella free?
Yes. Stella is free and open source under the GPL-2.0 license. The project is donationware, so contributions are welcome but not needed to use it.
What does Stella emulate?
The Atari 2600 Video Computer System, including its TIA graphics chip and a wide range of its controllers.
Does Stella run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. The Mac download supports both Apple Silicon and 64-bit Intel.
Which macOS version does Stella need?
The project does not publish a minimum macOS version on its download page.
Do I need game files to play?
Yes. Stella plays game ROM files that you supply yourself, as raw A26, BIN or ROM files, also inside ZIP files. Its FAQ points to AtariAge as the main website for all things Atari.
What is the Time Machine in Stella?
It creates save states automatically, so you can move back and forth along the recorded timeline.
Which controllers can I use?
Stella emulates Joystick, Paddle, Driving, CBS Booster Grip and QuadTari controllers among others, using your keyboard, joysticks or mouse.
Is Stella useful for Atari developers?
Yes. It has an extensive built-in debugger with static analysis through the Distella disassembler, plus developer options.
Can I install Stella with Homebrew?
Yes. The Homebrew cask is stella-app: brew install --cask stella-app.
Where does the Stella download on stella.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official Stella download page at https://stella-emu.github.io/downloads.html. stella.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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